Vacation memory

This story is more about Donnie than Sammy, although Sammy was the driving force behind most of our lives. Most years, if all was healthy on the home front, we took our children to Disney World. Vince would fly, and in the early days I would pack the kids in the van along with my parents and we would drive to Florida a few days earlier. The vacation I am thinking of now was, I think 1997 or there abouts. I just remember we were on the beach and Sammy was having such a wonderful time with his family. The sun was out and life was good. I remember thinking this is perfect. Then, a couple of children noticed that Sammy was struggling a little while walking in the sand and his pull-up was showing. They started to make fun of Sammy. Donnie, who was about 8 I think, took Sammy by the hand and walked up to the boys. He looked them right in the eye and said. “I know that if you were born with a disability and Sammy saw you, he would never make fun of you. He would ask you to play with him instead.” Sammy touched so many lives in his short time on earth. I hope those boys were touched that day. I know for certain that Sammy help shape the lives of his sister and brothers and made my life as there parent much easier.
It doesn’t get easier, we just get better at it. God is good.

Halloween

Some days are harder than others and today seems to be one of those days. I think it is because I have plans to take my foster children along with my grandchildren to a pumpkin patch today. It is very hard to go places that I know Sammy would have loved to go. So today I wanted to share our last Halloween together with you. Last year Sammy wanted to be Jeff Wiggles. For his birthday I found a Jeff shirt on line and Sammy was so happy when he opened his present. He wore it to bed that night. He wanted to wear it every day but with a little coaxing he would take it off and let me wash it. So when Halloween came around there wasn't any question as to what Sammy would be. He picked out his black pants and tucked in his Jeff shirt and gladly sat still to have his hair sprayed black. He then wanted to pose to have his picture taken in his version of "The Big Red Car" . Sammy's was yellow but it worked!! For the past 7 years Sammy shared his trick or treating with his best friend Marcus and the past 3 years Maria joined us too. What wonderful times the 3 had, in and out of the car, giggling and sorting candy. Then every year when I pulled out Sammy's bag from the pantry sure enough there was last years candy! It was never the candy as much as ringing the doorbells and getting to see so many wonderful friends and family. Sammy's loved everyone but his favorites were Grandma Gernentz', Grandma and Grandpa Sartoris' and Aunt Diane and Uncle Jimmy's. Sammy always had a special place in his heart for his Uncle Jimmy!!

It doesn't get easier, you just get better at it. God is good.

Trip to Arkansas

Where do I start? Which memory do I begin with? I can close my eyes and remember such a beautiful smile and that rough voice singing. How Sammy loved to sing. He sang one time all the way to Arkansas. The song, I cannot remember, but the lovely sound of his music will be with me forever. My good friend Sybil and I, along with Sammy were on our way to her parent’s home for a few days. Because I listen to Sammy’s singing daily I was use to it. I was a little nervous that Sybil would find Sammy’s constant singing annoying but after the first 100 or so miles Sybil smiled at me and said “What a beautiful voice he has! I love it!” The music continued that weekend. Sammy, with almost no coaxing, agreed to perform for Sybil and her parents the entire Disney Studios production of Beauty and the Beast. It just so happened he had his DVD with him. As we put the DVD on the big screen TV, Sammy stood in front of the TV and recreated the entire show. He played the part of Beast, Gaston, the villagers, and even Bell! (Without looking at the TV I might add!!) Grandpa and Grandma D loved it and Sammy loved his audience! That weekend was pretty special. We did some sightseeing, met Grandma and Grandma D’s chickens, and one of Sammy’s favorite things, putt putt golf. I am so grateful for this time in Arkansas. It doesn’t get easier, you just get better at it. God is good.

Sammy's 16th Birthday

My Sammy will forever be 15 years old. On what would have been his 16th birthday (Oct. 11h) we started off the day attending a mass said in his memory. Later that morning we were joined by many family and friends at his grave to release 16 white balloons, one pink and one blue and 2 Disney balloons. On the pink and blue balloons we wrote the names of all the children we know that have also gone to be with our Lord. Marcus and Maria, Sammy's nephew and niece, released the Disney balloons. It was very emotional, not only on his birthday but the week leading up to his birthday. I still rarely make it through the day without a few tears, but as my newest favorite saying goes.... It never gets easier, you just get better at it. God is good.